The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-07-29

Complaints ake unusually frequent this
season in regard to sick fowls. In nine
cases out of every ten reported the disease
is roup in one of its several stages, and it
is caused from neglected colds, undue ex-
posture to cold and wet, roosting in
draughts or confinement in i'll ventilated
houses. The very first symptom of this
dreaded disease is hoarseness and pccu-
liar noise made by the chick, which, for
lack Of q better term, may be called
''sneeze," general dumpishness and dis
inclination to eat At this stage if prompt
and efficient treatment be given the birds
can be saved. .y a.-
AS roup is highly contagious, the first
thing to be done is to isolate sick birds
from the we'll ones. The writer separates
from the flock the birds as soon as they
begin to sneeze, confines them in venti-
lated but dry coOps. The birds are fed on
cooked food, in which is mixed little
cayenne pepper and spirits of camphor,
while in their drinking water is put
Douglas mixture at the rate of two table
spoonfuls to gallon of water.
At the second stage of the disease the
cold has developed an offensive discharge
from the nostrils and eyes, an offensive
breath, and refusal usually to either eat
or drink. Even at this stage the birds
may be saved by administering roup
pills-German roup pills are popular
understanding to directions, keeping up
Douglas mixture in the water in which
has been dropped little carbolic acid.
When the third stage is reached, at which
juncture the head becomes much swollen
and ulcers appear, it is folly to doctor the
fowls. They ought to be killed imme-
diately and their bodies buried
When once the roup, even in its first
stage, has appeared, it is wise precau-
ton to feed the well fowls little sulphur
in their food, and tincture Of iron in the
drinking water. We have given above
the more marked symptoms Of roup and
the remedies that have proven effectual
with us. Symptoms differ somewhat,
according to the violence of the attacks,
but the offensive breath, the sore throat
and mouth, the sneeze, discharge from
nostrils and eyes, will, one or more of
them, mark the disease. Roup remedies
are legion, but preventive means are best.
1t will pay every one who keeps fowls to
have on hand roup pills and Douglas
mixture; these two remedies have been
proven beyond doubt to be excellent, and
there is no hesitancy in recommending
them. ~ FssA %24sA
ln0lReStlOn, uue 10 cOlQ sometimes, out
usually to too stimulating diet, may be
mitigated by cutting down the diet to soft,
bland food and a limited water supply
Indigestion causes sometimes what is
termed ''crop bound" The food does not
pass into the stomach, and the crop be-
comes swollen and hard, which renders
the bird restless, with inclination to toss
the head about and draw up the crop. The
treatment for this is a little warm water
forced down the throat and gentle knead
ing of the crop; then give teaspoonful of
castor oil, and leave the rest to nature.
Feed very soft food only, and allow but
little water.
Food Required by q Working Horse.
The amount of food required by work
ing horse must be adapted to the work
performed. Food is needed to sustain life
first, and then to repair the waste of the
muscular system caused by the work.
Henry Stewart, good authority in such
matters, says that to sustain the vital
action and force a horse of 200 pounds
requires about twenty-five pounds of hay